Friday, February 18, 2011

How Cute are These?!!

My friend Krista has been on a Cake Pop kick lately... well, mostly because I've been asking her to make them for events that we've been putting on for school & cub scouts !  Have you heard of Cake Pops?  They're are actually a couple of books out that I know about.  Check out this link: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,8831/path,1/title,Cake-Pops-by-Bakerella/.
Anyway, take a look at her latest creation which she made for her son's second grade teacher who is in LOVE with panda bears!






How cute are these faces?!


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Rocket Cookies & More Dots

Making some cute rocket cookies for Luke's Blue and Gold Cub Scout Ceremony.  It's a space theme.  I haven't made sugar cookies with the Royal Icing in a couple of years because they require a lot more time (and energy).  I'm way out of practice, but I had fun making them!  I found the frosting recipe here.

Started with the thicker meringue frosting piped along the edges.
Thinned out the meringue frosting to make it flood the cookie.


I tried to get really fancy with different designs (windows/doors/numbers) & wasn't thilled with any of them... I ended up just doing this basic design.  I have definitely reached the 'it's-good-enough' stage!
In case you haven't noticed, I am OBSESSED with these little candy dots!  They are just too, too cute and the recipe makes a bunch (like around 65!) of sheets of them!


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a fun day!  Hearts, love, red & pink everything and loads of sugar!

I can't remember who I lifted this cute idea from, but Luke loved it!


Saturday, February 12, 2011

Valentine Candy & Treat Bar

The teachers and staff at my little guy's elementary school absolutely LOVED this Valentine Candy & Treat Bar that we put on for them yesterday!  The treats that everyone on the Staff Appreciation Committee contributed were amazing and delicious and displayed so beautifully.  We even provided the staff with To Go containers so they could take their goodies home for their families.  I came all prepared to take pictures of the completed tablescape... well, I got about five close-up photos of some of the goodies and then I heard square dancing music coming from the gym and, of course, got totally distracted!  I hustled to the gym to take some pictures of the third graders do-si-do'ing and after the fourth picture that I took my camera battery died!  Aargh!  So, I had to go home and charge my battery and after about an hour I went back up to the school to take the photos of the treat table and, wow, word must've gotten out about the yumminess in the Teacher's Lounge because it had already been hit hard!  Fortunately, I had hidden a few sweets under the table to replenish with, but in my craziness I neglected to take a close-up of Carrie's beautiful kiss cookies (sorry Carrie)!  They were delicious... in fact, everything was delectable and I know of what I speak because I think I sampled everything on the table!  :)  


A close-up view of the table after it had been hit!  :)



top left:  Michelle's Valentine Sugar Cookies   
bottom right:  Karin's Chocolate Covered Caramels & Staci's Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes



top left:  Lisa's Chocolate Covered Preztzel Rods  top right:  Deborah's Chocolate Covered Cherries
bottom left:  Nadya's Valentine Tea Selection           bottom right:  Karin's Candy Buttons


top left:  Kim's Krispy Kisses               top right:  Karin's Pretzel Kisses
bottom left:  Krista's Cake Pops       bottom right:  Dawn's wrapped candy bars



top left:  Jill's bowl o' m&m's     top right:  Staci's Red Velvet Mini Cupcake Bouquet
bottom left:  Vicki's Raspberry Chocolate Thumbprints   bottom right:  Lisa's Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Sweet Life



I have been busy, busy, busy baking and creating in the kitchen the past couple of days.  My kitchen is a disaster right now and my dining room is covered with cookie sheets and cooling racks filled with lots of cookies and candies, but I'm having fun!  The Teacher Appreciation Committee is setting up a Dessert Bar for the teachers at my son's elementary school for Valentine's Day. We're going to have to-go boxes so they can fill up on the goodies and take them home to their families for the weekend!   There are about a dozen other moms baking delicious treats to as well.  I think the teachers are going to love it!

I drizzle a powdered sugar glaze on my sugar cookies and just let the icing drip off onto a cookie sheet.  So easy!


These are usually a Christmas treat that we do every year, but they are so easy and quick that I decided to add the Valentine m&m's and call it good!

Remember those yummy candy dots from when we were kids?  Well, I found this idea on another blog and couldn't wait to try it.  The first batch that I made was pink and then I tried the red.  The recipe is below if you'd like to try!  They'd be perfect for a child's birthday party!
 Ingredients


3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 egg whites
White Paper (I used computer paper)
Food coloring

Directions

1. Cut white paper into twenty four 2-by-11-inch strips. Using a mixer, beat the confectioners’ sugar and egg white until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Divide the icing into small bowls. Stir the food coloring into your bowls, covering any colors you aren't using first with plastic wrap.

2. Lay the paper strips side by side on a work surface. Pipe out the icing onto the paper strips in dots, about 1/3 inch apart in even rows. (If you don't have a decorators bag and tip, just use a plastic baggie and cut off a small part of the corner.)

3. Let the dots sit at room temperature until hardened, 12 hours or overnight.



Then I made caramels...



And I melted chocolate and dipped them...

I was totally bummed when I realized that I used the wrong chocolate after I was done dipping all of them.  I usually like to use a Ghiradelli milk chocolate, but this time I forgot and used semi-sweet.  I think it makes the caramels a little too sweet, but hey, that didn't stop me from eating a few of them!  :)



Had to include a photo of Luke's creation.  He wanted to know what he could dip with the little bit of chocolate left in the bottom of the bowl and this is what he came up with... chocolate covered marshmallows!


Monday, February 7, 2011

check, check & check...

JANUARY'S TO DO LIST:

for pleasure:


read three books... check out my last three books on my Shelfari bookshelf.

go on a 'real' date with my husband... we went out for Thai!

for my creative soul:

totally complete my Project 365 book... I know, I know!

make paint chip bookmarks

to try a new vegetarian recipe

Spinach Quiche with Feta.  Good, but not good enough to be a 'do-over'.

just to be nice:

put together a care package for my niece

make 40 baby shower invitations for a friend...Can't really count this one because I just finished it today!

I think they turned out pretty cute... :P
home upkeep:

organize and clean out gift wrap drawers

service:

donate blood

personal health:

make it to the gym 3 times per week